Closure for open-mouthed containers or tubular vessels

ABSTRACT

A closure suitable for insertion over the opening of a tubular or similarly constructed member and adapted to hermetically seal that opening. The closure construction includes a conical central wall that peculiarly adapts it for placement upon the tubular member by the application of pressure to the approximate center of the central wall.

United States Patent [191 Croyle et a1.

CLOSURE FOR OPEN-MOUTHED CONTAINERS OR TUBULAR VESSELS Inventors: JackV. Croyle, Woonsocket; James B. Swett, Barrington, both of R.l.

Assignee: Dart Industries Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

Filed: June 22, 1970 Appl. No.: 48,405

US. Cl. 220/24.5, 220/42 C, 220/60 A Int. Cl B65d 39/12 Field of Search220/42 C, 24.5, 60 A;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1964 Parker 220/24.5

[ July 3, 1973 3,380,610 4/1968 Kl'ieps 215/41 2,913,140 11/1959Vuillemenot 3,081,904 3/1963 Pipes 3,559,843 2/1971 Kern 215/41 PrimaryExaminer- Lloyd L. King Attorney-Leigh B. Taylor, Paul R. Wylie andHarold R. Beck 5 7 ABSTRACT A closure suitable for insertion over theopening of a tubular or similarly constructed member and adapted tohermetically seal that opening. The closure construction includes aconical central wall that peculiarly adapts it for placement upon thetubular member by the application of pressure to the approximate centerof the central wall.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PMENTEU JUL 3 I975 A TORNEY CLOSURE FOROPEN-MOUTHED CONTAINERS R TUBULAR VESSELS This invention relatesgenerally to closures, but more specifically to a type offinger-operable seals for containers.

l-leretofore sealing closures for containers have been fabricated frommaterials having the required characteristics of strength, elasticityand flexibility, including closures made of compressed fiber, paper,cellulosue stock, plastic materials, and condensation products either bythemselves or in various combinations. The invention herein provides asealing closure for containers in the form of a hollow stopper havingthe elasticity and flexibility to provide either a nonsnapping noiselessor snap-on type of cover which is applicable to the lip of a containeror by hand or machine and removable therefrom by a peeling-off type ofprocedure.

More particularly, the invention concerns reusable plastic containerclosures for open-mouthed containers and further contemplates a closurearrangement and sealing method that is quickly and easily effectable andwhich assures a lasting reliable hermetic seal. A further feature of theinvention resides in the provision of a sealing closure of the abovecharacteristics which may be molded by compression or injection andwhich is economical to manufacture.

This new closure also includes several particular distinctiveconstructional features. which enhance its applicability for use oncontainers and other related tubular members. Among these is the conicalcentral wall that facilitates the contraction of the central wallperipheral edge so that that wall area can easily enter the vessel andthereafter expand to seal against the vessel walls.

With the foregoing features in mind and with such other features as willbecome more apparent as this Specification proceeds, the invention willbe understood from the following description taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are usedto designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a closure incorporating the characteristicfeatures of this invention:

FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the closure taken along lines2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a preferred embodiment ofthe sealing means around the closure periphery and one form of tubularopening adapted to receive that closure; and

FIG. 4 is another enlarged sectional view similar to that shown in FIG.3 and also representing a preferred construction;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of the closure shown in FIG.1; and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6.

In the drawings numeral 10 represents a conventional container shownwith conical side walls terminating in a peripheral rim 11. A similarcontainer is indicated by numeral 12. wherein the inner walls of thecontainers at the rim portions are provided with an annular bead 13.

Containers 10 & 12 may be of any shape and of any flexible ordistortable and stiff material such as plastic, glass, or metal. In theuse of a flexible or distortable material the closure hereinafter to bedescribed is afforded a live resistance to effect a seal whereas in theuse of a still material a seal is effected between the engaging walls ofthe closure imposing opposite pressures against the walls of thecontainer to effect a seal.

A closure generally designated by numeral 14 has a central conical wall16 and an upwardly directed and inverted U-shape annular grooveextending from the periphery thereof. The outer side wall 18 defines thegroove but terminates above the inner side wall 20 while a top wall orconnecting wall 22 joins the side walls.

Particular notice should be taken of the fact that the inverted U-shapegroove formed by walls 18, 20 and 22 is of a width such that wall 18will not interfere with rim 11 as the closure is applied to the vesselopening. Of course wall 18 may also be eliminated or its shape somodified that interference with rim 11 is substantially negated as itaffects insertion of the central wall 16 into the opening. Similarly,note that in the FIG. 3 embodiment, an annular bead 24 is positioned onthe sealing side of wallv 20. This bead 24 is adapted to snap over bead13 on container 12 as the closure is inserted thereon and to effect aseal around the inner wall of container 12 below bead 13. Bead 13 thusfunctions as a stop member and partially restricts the upward movementof closure 14.

For the application of any of the closures to a container, the closureat the inverted groove is placed over the mouth or top edge of thecontainer rim and the approximate center of central wall 16 is presseddown by the thumb or some other mechanical means to effect a contractionof the side groove wall 20. Thus, the locally distortable closure memberis contractably and distensibly constructed so that the wall 20 will bedisplaceable with central wall 16. This function is achieved due to theresiliency and elastic memory of the materials of construction employed,and in particular because of the central wall configuration that iscarefully constructed to take advantage of these inherent physicalproperties.

This configuration is conically disposed and extends outwardly fromeither a center point or a substantially planar area 26 such as may beseen in FIG. 5. In essence, the central wall 16 because of itscurvilinear construction, tends to collapse upon itself upon theapplication of pressure at the approximate center point thereof. Thiscollapse substantially uniformly displaces the wall 20 inwardly.Theoretically, the entire central wall would continue to collapse in anumbrella-like fashion if it were not for the stiffness of that wall aswell as the reinforcement provided by walls 18, 20 and 22.

As indicated above, the closure embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 furtherincludes an outwardly protruding bead 24 which extends around the outerperiphery of side groove wall 20. FIG. 3 further shows an undercut orinverted ledge 28 below which the bead 24 is adapted to seal against theinner wall of the container 12.

The comparative distances between the inside surface of wall 22 in theU-shape groove and the bead 24 and between the top edge of rim 11 andundercut 28 are preferred to be such that the entirety of the bead willlie below and out of contact with the undercut when the container andclosure are in sealed relationship. This then assures that actualsealing occurs between the bead 24 or the outside of wall 20 FIG. 4 andthe container side wall and not against the undercut 28.

The noted disparity in the respective dimensions between the insidesurface of wall 22 and bead 24, and the top edge of rim 1 1 and undercut28, tends to negate the necessity to retain exacting tolerances on them.For example, if a lasting seal were to be maintained between the beadand undercut, one would have to be assured that a virtual line contactwas kept between these elements because of their respective contouredfeatures. in this disclosed arrangement, however, it is only necessaryto maintain the bead 24 below the undercut 28 in a manner so thatsealing occurs against a virtually flat wall surface.

The undercut 28 therefore functions to produce an audible indication ofwhen the closure slips into proper sealing engagement with thecontainer, and further tends to restrain the closure upon the open mouthof the container as indicated above. In this respect, it should be notedthat the undercut 28 may be either continuous or discontinuous toproduce the desired effect, and that the undercut and bead may bereversed in their placement on the container and closure respectively ifdesired.

In addition and as is evident from FIG. 4, the undercut 28 need not beemployed as shown in the preferred embodiment. For example, the rim 11of a typical tubular member or container need not be undercut and bead24 may be eliminated in certain instances without impairing theoperability of the inventive closure.

For the removal of one of the closures from a container, the wall 18 isgrasped between the thumb and a finger and easily and expeditiouslypeeled off from the rim 11 of the container in a silent and non-snappingmanner.

The closure, and the container if made of glass or of a material ofsimilar characteristics as the closure material may be used in thepackaging of alcoholic liquids, carbonated beverages, fruits, preserves,milk and derivative products, cheese, candies, other foods andbeveragesand also for drugs, proprietary preparations etc.

The closures above described may be formed by compression injection, orother molding techniques. The qualities of the closure structure areenhanced by the characteristics of the closure material. Thesecharacteristics comprise a rubber-like thermoplastic composition whichdoes not absorb and is not readily wetted by water; is odorless andresistant to acids, alkalis, solvents and other chemicals at ordinarytemperatures; will not soften far below boiling point of water; isresistant to mildews, micro-organisms and insects; has flexibility andelasticity with a slow recovery and is frictional and waxy to the touch.Such a closure material comprises the polymers of ethyiene known underthe trade names of Polythene and Polyethylene.

The invention has been described in-detail with particular reference topreferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described herein above and as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. A locally distortable plastic closure contractably and distensiblyconstructed and having an elastic memory such that it is adapted tohermetically seal an openmouthed member and comprising: a downwardlydisposed conical means emanating from a center portion to a peripherallypositioned intergral wall and adapted for the application of pressure tothe approximate center thereof in such a manner that said means tends tocollapse upon itself and substantially uniformly displace said integralwall until said closure is easily positionable on an open-mouthedmember.

2. A plastic closure according to claim 1 wherein said integral wall isan extended sealing means positioned around said conical means and isdisplaceable such that at least a portion thereof is closely engageablewith and sealable against the walls of an open-mouthed member due to theresiliency and elastic memory of said closure upon the discontinuance ofapplied pressure to said means.

3. A locally distortable injection molded thermoplastic closurecontractably and distensibly constructed and having an elastic memorysuch that it is adapted to hermetically seal an open-mouthed member andcomprising:

a. conical means emanating from a center portion of said closure towarda peripheral wall and being adapted for the application of pressure tothe approximate center thereof in such manner that said conical meanstends to collapse upon itself and substantially uniformly displace saidperipheral wall until said closure is easily positionable on anopen-mouthed member; and

b. integral extended sealing means positioned around said peripheralwall of the conical means, said sealing means being displaceable in likemanner with said peripheral wall such that at least a portion of saidsealing means is closely engageable with sealable against the walls ofan open-mouthed member due to the resiliency and elastic memory of saidclosure upon the discontinuance of applied pressure to said centralwall.

a a a ca

1. A locally distortable plastic closure contractably and distensibly constructed and having an elastic memory such that it is adapted to hermetically seal an open-mouthed member and comprising: a downwardly disposed conical means emanating from a center portion to a peripherally positioned integral wall and adapted for the application of pressure to the approximate center thereof in such a manner that said means tends to collapse upon itself and substantially uniformly displace said integral wall until said closure is easily positionable on an open-mouthed member.
 2. A plastic closure according to claim 1 wherein said integral wall is an extended sealing means positioned around said conical means and is displaceable such that at least a portion thereof is closely engageable with and sealable against the walls of an open-mouthed member due to the resiliency and elastic memory of said closure upon the discontinuance of applied pressure to said means.
 3. A locally distortable injection molded thermoplastic closure contractably and distensibly constructed and having an elastic memory such that it is adapted to hermetically seal an open-mouthed member and comprising: a. conical means emanating from a center portion of said closure toward a peripheral wall and being adaPted for the application of pressure to the approximate center thereof in such manner that said conical means tends to collapse upon itself and substantially uniformly displace said peripheral wall until said closure is easily positionable on an open-mouthed member; and, b. integral extended sealing means positioned around said peripheral wall of the conical means, said sealing means being displaceable in like manner with said peripheral wall such that at least a portion of said sealing means is closely engageable with sealable against the walls of an open-mouthed member due to the resiliency and elastic memory of said closure upon the discontinuance of applied pressure to said central wall. 